Queen in Summer

This is a portrait of the horse I owned when I was a teenager, Queen, an Anglo-Arab. I referenced an old polaroid photo of mine. She was my best friend for years! The palette this time was Cobalt blue, Cad Red Light, Burnt Umber, and Cad Yellow Light. The size is 9"x12", done on canvas paper.

Still having fun!

This oil sketch on paper of a lovely pair of dark bays in harness is an experiment in greens and reds, still using the same limited palette from my last painting session. I was particularly pleased with how the excited expression in the horse on the left came through!

Doing these quick studies on paper helps me to decide if I want to develop them further on a board or canvas--this one is definitely a candidate! My goal at this point is just to relax and enjoy the painting process. Confidence and skill only comes with much practice!

The paintings below are from a trip to Spruce Meadows, one of my favorite places to be each summer. Here one can get close-up with the very best show-jumping horses and riders--a colourful, exciting, and world-famous venue. These paintings are a little more refined, and I have moved to 9"x12" canvas sheets. My brushes are hog bristle filberts, #4, 5 and 6. Same palette, and I'm getting more familiar with the colours I can mix.

Visits with McNeil's cows



Rekindling the Love of Painting

 

    In true Valentine's Day tradition, I have answered the call of my oil paints after nearly two years of neglect-- and I'm in love again!  It was a bit akward at first, and I had to work up the courage to actually put brush to paper, but the joy of just playing in the brand-new Georgian Oil set was amazing!!

    The pallette was limited to Phthalo Blue, Quin. Red, Lemon Yellow, Burnt Umber and Titanium White.

 Time flew by, and after a day of random sketching on paper, these two are my favorites.

Catfish completed

Here's the final piece--I'm hoping the portrait captures the gentle nature of this horse which makes him perfect for his work at Opening Gaits. He's oustanding among his kind!
In the background you can see Green Briar stables, where Opening Gaits is based.